Sponge counter holder



March 4, 1952 T. W. HALLIDAY SPONGE COUNTER HOLDER 2 SI-EETS--SHET l V Filed Dec. 26, 1946 March 4, 1952 r. w. HALLIDAY SPONGE COUNTER HOLDER Filed Dec. 26, 1946 Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to a device for holding a plurality of articles in such a manner that the articles can be removed for use serially in a predetermined sequence only and must also be replaced serially in such a predetermined sequence with the result that, when the last of the holding members has received an article, it is certain that all of the articles have been replaced.

While there are more general applications of the invention, it is particularly useful as a holder and counter of surgical Sponges 'and when so used requires the surgeon or assisting nurse to remove the Sponges for use in a predetermined order and prevents replacement of the Sponges out of sequence, so that if the holder is full, the surgeon knows, without possibility of error, that all of the Sponges have been replaced.

It is, accordingly, one object of this invention to provide such a holder for a plurality of articles in which it is impossible to remove the articles out of a predetermined order.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a holder, which must be lled up in a predetermined order, such that all of the preceding holding devices must be lled before a succeeding one is in condition to be lled, thus facilitating counting.

It is a feature of this invention that novel locking mechanisms are employed to receive and retain. the articles and also to move the adjacent receiving. mechanism to inoperative position until the rst mechanism is properly conditioned.

Further objects, advantages and features will be apparent from the annexed specification, in which:

Figure4 1 is a side elevation of a holder embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation similar to Figure l, but in which the holding members are in the release position;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation with parts broken away for clarity of illustration of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation similar to Figure 4 in which the holding members are shown in locked position;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7` is an isometric View of one of the sliding slugs; and

Figure 8 is a detailed isometric view of a fragment ofthe base member;

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

there is' shown a holder embodying the present invention and including a frame member I Il, having at the rear thereof a forwardly bent flange i2 and at the iront thereof a forwardly bent iiange I3. A rod I5 is provided, passing through suitable apertures in the flanges I2 and I3 and rotatably mounted therein. A lid I6 is attached to the rod I5, as by bending a portion thereof around the rodY to form a sleeve and soldering or otherwise aflixing the sleeve to the rod. The rearward end of the rod I6 is threaded, as at I8, and a knurled nut I9 is threadedly received on the threaded portion I8. The nut I 9 has an end portion 2li adapted to abut the inner side of the flange I2 and thus draw'the rodI |75 rearwardly upon taking up of the nut I9. The rearward withdrawal of the rod I5 will cause a corresponding rearward movement of the lid I6. The lid I6 is provided with a plurality of circular apertures 20 and, at its forward side, each of the apertures 20 is elongated, as at 2|, to form an eyeslot. The frame Il) is provided with a plurality of rivets 22, by means of which disks 24 are' pivotally mounted on the frame. Each of the disks 24 is provided with a slot Vor recess 25 andl a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate cutaway segments 2S and 2l. rThe heads of the rivets 22 are adapted to register in the holes 29 in the lid i6 and theheads of the rivets 22 are provided with shoulders' 28', under which will slide the upper surface of the edges or the eye-slots 2| when the rod I5 isv retracted by the nut i9, thus securing the lid I6 in position.

A plurality of rings 353 are provided and adapted, as shown Vin Figure l, to be received in slots 3|, formed in the lower edge of the frame Il! and in the slots 25 formed in the disks 24. As shown in Figure l, when the rings 36 are thus positioned, the disks 2li are rotated clockwise to such position that the' rings will? be retained within the holder. In this position, the outer periphery of each of the disks 24 engages against the outer surface of the cutaway segment 2i' of the disk adjoining it to the left, thus preventing counterclockwise rotation of the disk to the left and, hence, preventing removal' of the ring 3ll` from said disk tothe left.

A similar disk 32 is provided at the front of the holder, similarly mounted. However, thedisk 32 has been turned with respect tothe position of the disks 2li, with the result that the outer periphery 3d" of the disk 32' engages the complete length of the arcuate segment 2l of the disk 24 to its immediate'l'eft, thus' locking the entire assembly of disks in` closed' position. -The disk 32` may be provided with an aperture 35 which, in the position shown in Figure 1, registers with an aperture 36 in the frame I0 and a pin 31 may be inserted through these apertures to afx the disk 32 in the locking position, as shown.

When it is desired to remove the articles which may be mounted on the rings 30, the pin 31 is first removed from the apertures 35 and 36 and the disk 32 is rotated to disengage the outer periphery 34 from the segment 21 of the disk immediately to the left and, in so doing, the arcuate segment 26 of the disk 32 is positioned so as to permit counterclockwise rotation of said disk immediately to the left. The holder is then conditioned for the successive removal of the rings 30. Merely by pulling on the ring 30, the disk 24 immediately to the left of the disk 32 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, permitting the withdrawal of its ring 30. In so doing, this disk 24 is left with its segment 26 positioned to permit the counterclookwise rotation of the -disk 24, next in line to the left. In this manner, each of the rings may be successively removed from the holder. It will be noted, however, that it is necessary to rotate the disks 24 counterclockwise, so as to position the segment 26 properly, before a disk 24, next to the left, can be removed. The result of this is that, if any of the disks 24 is filled with a ring 30, it is irnpossible to remove any of the rings to the left thereof.

Furthermore, by reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that, on relling the holder, it is necessary to begin with the disk 24, furtherest to the left, for the reason that, until this disk 24 has been rotated, so as to place the segment 21 thereon in position to permit a clockwise rotation of the disk 24, next to the right, said disk 24, next to the right, cannot be loaded.

When the device of the present invention is used as a holder for surgical sponges, the sponges will be attached to the rings 30 in any suitable manner, such as by a thread passing through the sponge and through the circle of the ring. It will be apparent that it is necessary for the operator to remove the Sponges successively, beginning with the ring 30 farthest to the right, and that it is impossible to remove any of the sponges mounted on any of the rings 30, before the ring 30, immediately to the right, has been removed. Furthermore, it will be noted that, on replacing, it is necessary to begin with the disk 24 farthest to the left and replace the rings progressively to the right, with the result that if the disk 24 farthest to the right has been filled with a ring 30, the operator at once is informed that the complete number of rings has been replaced.

Detent means are provided for maintaining each of thedisks in either locked or unlocked position. As shown in the drawings, this detent means includes a pair of openings 50 formed in each of the disks 3| and 32. A series of depressions 5| is provided on the lid I6, and each of these depressions is adapted to engage either of the openings 50 on one of the rotatable disks. A pair of transverse apertures 52 may extend through the lid I6 and frame member I0 to receive support rods or other support members (not shown) to hold the device in the desired position.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 4 to 8 inclusive, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention, including a base or frame member having at the rear thereof a forwardly bent flange I I2 and at the front thereof a forwardly bent flange II3. The flange I|3 is apertured to permit the passage of a pin |I4 secured within a knurled nut |I9. Fixed to the pin ||4 is an arm ||6 carrying another pin ||1 slidably retained in a hollow tubular member ||5. The pins ||4 and ||1, together with the arm- I I6, form one integral crank as shown. It will be understood that the flange ||2 is similarly apertured and that another nut I8 similarly retains a similar crank member |20. The hollow tubular member ||5 is formed as clearly shown in Figure 6 by bending one end of a pressure plate |2| backwards upon itself in the form of a circle. The pressure plate |2I extends downwardly and is adapted to iit under an upwardly turned lip |22 of the ange |23 formed on the base- ||0 and thereby retained therein.

It will be appreciated that by turning the knurled nuts ||8 and I I9, the cranks are caused to rotate, thus lifting the pressure plate |2| from its position engaged under the lip |22, and the pressure plate |2| may be swung to the position shown in phantom as at |2I in Figure 6.

The base member ||0 is provided at its lower edge with a forwardly bent flange |23 and an upwardly bent lip |22 as particularly shown in Figure 8. The flange |23 is indented in a plurality of positions as shown at |24 to form stops. The base I I0 has mounted thereon in spaced relation to the ange |23 a rib |25 having a forwardly bent flange |26. The flange |26 is downwardly indented at a plurality of places |21 to form stops as indicated, and the base ||0 the flanges |23 and |26 and the pressure plate |2| as retained by the lip |22 form a channel for the retention of sliding slugs |26. The sliding slugs |28 are each similar in configuration and are shown in detail in Figure 7. Thus each of the slugs |28 has a generally rectangular base portion |29 in the bottom of which is an upwardly extending slot or recess |30 having a semicircular upper limit |3I. The right-hand side of each of the slugs |28 is provided with a rectangular slot |32 and the left-hand side of each of the slugs is provided with an extending lug or projection |33 having a lower surface |34 extending at right angles to the perpendicular end of the base portion |29 and having an upper edge |35 forming an obtuse angle with the vertical edge of the base |29 to form a slide.

The base Il is provided at its lower edge with a plurality of upwardly extending L-shaped slots |40 having a horizontal extending portion |4I. The slugs I 28 are adapted, as shown, to be housed within the channel formed by the base flanges |23 and 26 and the pressure plate |2| and to slide therein. A plurality of holding members or rings |42 are provided. The rings |42 are adapted to be inserted in the slots |40 and into the slots |30 formed in the slugs |28 and then moved into the horizontal portion |4| of the slots |40 on the sliding of its slug |28 to the left. As noted in Figure 5, a stop |43 is provided adapted to be engaged by the slug |28 positioned furthest to the left. When the ring |42 has thus been inserted in the slot |40 and the horixontal portion |4| of the slot |40, as indicated in Figure 5, the slug |28 has been slid to the left to engage the stop |43. Also the bottom of the slug has ridden over the stop formed by the indented portion |24. Assuming that the next adjacent slug |28 to the right has been similarly loaded, as indicated in Figure 5, it will be noted that the inclined portion |35 of the lug |33 on said adjacent slug has engaged the top edge of the slot |32 of the original slug and tilted said original slug upwardly into position where its upper right-hand corner is engaged by the stop formed by the indented portion |21 of the nange |26. It will be apparent that the lefthand slug 28 is thus locked in position and cannot be moved to release the ring |42 until the right-hand slug has first been so moved.

Adjacent the right-hand side of the holding device the base H8 is provided with a pin hole |50 and the pressure plate |2| is provided with a similar aligned pin hole adapted to receive a. locking pin |53. When the locking pin |53 is inserted in the holes |553 and |5|. the .Slug |28 positioned furthest to the right will be looked in closed position as shown Figure 5. 1n such case each of the slugs will be thus looked in position and none of the rings |42 may be removed from the holder.

Furthermore, it will be noted that on removal of the pin |53 and by exerting a forward and downward pull on the slug |28 positioned furthest to the right, this slug may be tilted downward and freed from the stop |21 permitting the slug to be moved to the right to align the slot with the vertical portion of the slot |40, thus permitting removal of the associated ring |42. By reference to Figure 4 it will be noted that such movement of the right-hand slug |28 frees. the next adjacent slug |28 so that it may also be tilted downwardly to free it from the stop |21 and thus the next ring may be removed. lIt will be appreciated, however, that it is impossible to remove a ring |42 from the holder until the slug |28 next adjacent to the right has been moved to open position.

It will further be noted that with the, slugs |28 thus moved to the open position, the left-hand lower corner of each slug has been engaged by its4 adjacent stop |24. and that, by reason of the inclined portion engaging under the upper edge of the adjacent slot |32, the slugs 28 are tilted to be secured in the position thus engaging the stops |24. In this position it will be apparrent that none of the slugs |28 can be moved to the left until the slug next adjacent to the. left has been moved to the left to free the slug from its position forced into contact with the stop. |24. Thus it is necessary in loading the holder to begin with the left-hand slug 28 and ll the holder serially from the left.

From the foregoing description it will be ap.- parent that, in the device of this embodiment, as in the device of the previous embodiment, the rings |42 must be removed serially beginning from tbe right-hand side and must beA replaced serially beginning from the left-hand side. When the invention is used with surgical Sponges mounted on the rings |42, the surgical Sponges may well be covered with blood, thus making observation of the holder diflicult. It is of great importance, however, that a strict count of such surgical Sponges be maintained. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that such a strict count is easily maintained by reason of the fact that the sponge holders can be removed from the device serially only and must be replaced serially with the result that. if the slug |28 furthest to the right has been filled, all of the Sponges have been returned and if it has not, been filled, a count may be obtained by ascertaining whichl one of the! slugs to the leit is thef last one which: has been filled, it beingimpossible to skip. or omit aA slug |28 in the` serial loading of the holder.

v A pair of transverse apertures |52 may extend through the frame member ||0 and pressure plate |2| to receive support. rods or other support members (not shown) to hold the device in the desired position.

While there is described what is, at present, considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modications and changes can be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention, and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A supporting device comprising a base portion, a plurality of disk-like interlocking members mounted thereon, each of said interlocking members being adapted in locked position to retain and support an object to be supported, means for serially unlocking said members in predetermined order only to release said objects serially, and means for serially loading and locking said members in the inverse order only, said means including a pair of oppositely disposed concave edges formed by cutting arcuate segments from the periphery of each of said disklike interlocking members whereby in one position each of said interlocking members is conditioned to permit one adjacent interlocking member to rotate in a specific direction and to lock the other adjacent interlocking member from rotating in said direction.

2. A supporting device comprising a base portion, a plurality of disk-like interlocking members mounted thereon, each of said interlocking members being adapted in locked position to retain and support an object to be supported, means for serially unlocking said members in predetermined order only to release said objects serially, and means for serially loading and locking said members in the inverse order only, said means including a pair of oppositely disposed concave edges formed by cutting arcuate segments from the periphery of each of said disk-like interlocking members whereby in one position each` oi said interlocking members is conditioned to permit one adjacent interlocking member to rotate in a specific direction and to lock the other adjacent interlocking member from rotating in said direction, and in another position each of said interlocking members is conditioned to permit said other adjacent interlocking member to rotate in the opposite direc-tion while lockingsaid one adjacent interlocking member from rotating in said opposite direction.

3. A supporting device comprising a base portion, a plurality of slots in one edge of said base portion, a corresponding plurality of disk-like rotatable interlocking members mounted thereon, each of said disk-like interlocking members being provided with a peripheral recess adapted in one position to receive or release an object through a corresponding slot in said base portion and in another position to retain` said object locked within said slot and recess, and means for serially unlocking said membersv in predetermined order only to release said objects serially, said means including a pair of oppositely disposed concave edges formed by cuttingv arcuate segments from the periphery of each of said disklike interlocking members whereby in one position each ofl said interlocking membersl is conditioned to permit one adjacent interlocking member to rotate in a specific direction and to lock the other adjacent interlocking member from rotating in said direction.

4. A supporting device comprising a base portion, a plurality of slots in one edge of said base portion, a corresponding plurality of disk-like rotatable interlocking members mounted thereon, each of said disk-like interlocking members being provided with a peripheral recess adapted in one position to receive or release an object through a corresponding slot in said base portion and in another position to retain said object locked within said slot and recess, means for serially unlocking said members in predetermined order only to release said objects serially, and means for serially loading and locking said members in inverse order only, said means including a pair of oppositely disposed concave edges formed by cutting arcuate segments from the periphery of each of said disk-like interlocking members whereby in one position each of said interlocking members is conditioned to permit one adjacent interlocking member to rotate in a specic direction and to lock the other adjacent interlocking member from rotating in said direction, and in another position each of said interlocking members is conditioned to permit said other adjacent interlocking member to rotate in the opposite direction while locking said one adjacent interlocking member from rotating in said opposite direction.

5. An apparatus for releasably retaining a plurality of mounting rings, comprising a base member, a plurality of slots in one edge of said base member, a plurality of disks rotatably mounted on said base member in side by side relation, each of said disks having a, recess adapted to register in one position with the entrance to one of said slots in said base member, the mounting rings being adapted to be inserted in the slots in said base member and retained therein by the recesses in said disks on rotation of said disks, and means locking each of said disks in retaining position until the next adjacent disk has been opened.

6. An apparatus for releasably retaining a plurality of mounting rings, comprising a base mem- Der, a plurality of slots in one edge o said base member, a plurality of disks rotatably mounted on said base lnember in side by side relation, each of said disks having a recess adapted to register in one position with the entrance to one of said slots in said base member, the mounting rings being adapted to be inserted in the slots in said base member and retained therein by the recesses in said disks on rotation of said disks, and means locking each of said disks in released position until the next adjacent disk has been moved to retaining position.

7. An apparatus for releasably retaining a plurality of mounting rings, comprising a base member, a plurality of slots in one edge of said base member, a plurality of disks rotatably mounted on said base member in side by side relation, each of said disks having a recess adapted to register in one position with the entrance to one of said slots in said base member, the mounting rings being adapted to be inserted in the slots in said base member and retained therein by the recesses in said disks on rotation of said disks, means locking each of said disks in retaining position until the next adjacent disk to one side has been opened, and means locking each of said disks in released position until the next adjacent disk to the other side has been turned to retaining position.

8. An apparatus for releasably retaining a plurality of similar objects comprising a base member, a plurality of slots in one edge of said base member, a plurality of disks rotatably mounted on said base member in side by side relation, each of said disks having a recess adapted to register in one position with the entrance to one of said slots in said base member, a corresponding plurality of mounting rings adapted to be inserted in the slots in said base member and retained therein by the recess in said disks on rotation of said disks, each of said disks having a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate segments cut from its periphery, said segments being operable in one position of the disk to permit rotation of the adjacent disk and in another position to be engaged by a portion of the adjacent disk and secured against rotation.

9. A supporting device comprising a base p0rtion, a plurality of slots in one edge of said base portion, a corresponding plurality of slidable interlocking members mounted thereon, each of said interlocking members being provided with a slot in its lower edge adapted in one position to receive or release an object through a corresponding slot in said base portion and in another position to retain said object locked within said slots, and interengaging means on adjacent members for serially unlocking said members in predetermined order only to release said objects serially.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a longitudinal base having a series of spaced open-ended slots, a series of interlocking members movably mounted on the base and each provided with an open-ended recess, each of the members being movable from a locked position wherein its recess cooperates with one of said slots for removably retaining an object to an unlocked position, wherein the recess and slot cooperate to permit release or the object, and interengaging means on said members whereby each member maintains an adjacent member in locked position, said interengaging means releasing the adjacent member when the member is moved to unlocked position.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a longitudinal base having a series of spaced open-ended slots, a series of interlocking members rotatably mounted on the base and each provided with an open-ended recess, each of the members being rotatable from a locked position wherein its recess cooperates with one of said slots for removably retaining an object to an unlocked position, wherein the recess and slot cooperate to permit release of the object, and interengaging means on said members whereby each member maintains an adjacent member in locked position, said interengaging means releasing the adjacent member when the member is rotated to unlocked position.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a longitudinal base having a series of spaced open-ended slots, a series of interlocking members movably mounted on the base and each provided with an open-ended recess, each of the members being movable from a locked p0- sition wherein its recess cooperates with one of said slots for removably retaining an object to an unlocked position, wherein the recess and slot cooperate to permit release of the object, detent means for maintaining each of the members in either locked or unlocked position, and interengaging means on said members whereby each member maintains an adjacent member in locked position, said interengaging means releasing the adjacent member when the member is moved to unlocked position.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a longitudinal base having a series of spaced open-ended slots, a series of duplicate interlocking slugs mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the base and each provided with an open-ended recess, each of the slugs being longitudinally movable 'from a locked position wherein its recess cooperates with one of said slots for removably retaining an object in an unlocked position, to an unlocked position wherein the recess and slot cooperate to permit release of the object, and interengaging means on adjacent slugs whereby each slug maintains an adjacent' slug in locked position, said interengaging means releasing the adjacent slug when said slug is moved to unlocked position.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination of a longitudinal base having a series of spaced open-ended slots, a series of duplicate interlocking slugs mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the base and each provided with an open-ended recess, each of the slugs being longitudinally movable from a locked position wherein its recess cooperates with one of said slots for removably retaining an object in an unlocked position, to an unlocked position wherein the recess and slot cooperate to permit release of the object, and longitudinally extending interengaging lugs and slots on adjacent slugs whereby each slug maintains an adjacent slug in locked position, each lug moving out of engagement with its cooperating slot to release the adjacent slug when said slug is moved to unlocked position.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base having longitudinal walls dening a channel, the upper and lower walls of the channel each having a series of' spaced detents .forming stops, the base having a series of open-ended slots extending into the channel, a series of duplicate interlocking slugs each mounted for sliding and tilting movement in the channel and each provided with an openended recess, each of the slugs being longitudinally movable from a locked position wherein its recess cooperates with one of said slots for removably retaining an object in an lunlocked position, to an unlocked position wherein the recess and slot cooperate to permit release of the object, and longitudinally extending interengaging lugs and slots on adjacent slugs acting to tilt each slug within the channel and to engage a portion thereof with one of said detent stops in the upper channel wall whileeach slug rests on a detent stop on the lower channel wall, each lug moving out of engagement with its cooperating slot to release the adjacent slug from the detent stop in the upper channel wall when said slug is moved to unlocked position.

THOMAS W. HALLIDAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number` Name Date 344,055 OMelveny June 22, 1886 537,311 Schade Apr. 9, 1895 1,368,322 Clarke Feb. 15, 1921 1,608,563 Morin Nov. 30, 1926 2,241,290 Brandt May 6, 1941 

